Synopsis:
Humanity once flourished, its golden age spanning the Earth in gleaming towers and boundless promise. Then came the War of Unmaking, and with it, the end of everything. A cataclysm known as the Severing shattered the world in a heartbeat, erasing most of civilization and plunging humankind into a new dark age.
Now, what remains clings to life in Aurelia, the last great city. A decaying, ringed fortress where crumbling spires claw at a polluted sky, light sputters like dying embers, and survival is the only law. Order is an illusion, and beyond the city walls, the wasteland spreads, hostile, barren, and filled with horrors that defy reason.
For Andy Rowan, survival is all he’s ever known. Orphaned and overlooked, he moves through Aurelia’s shadows, navigating criminal factions, cybernetic warlords, and those willing to kill for control of what’s left. But when he uncovers a secret buried beneath the city, tied to the Severing, the wasteland, and the fate of humanity, Andy is pulled into a conflict far greater than himself.
With war looming and Aurelia crumbling, he must confront a terrifying truth: the world isn’t just broken, it’s still breaking. And unless he acts, there may be nothing left to save.
Review:
That was a long and intense read, though I’m not complaining.
From the synopsis, I expected an epic adventure. I got glimpses of that, but not entirely. Let’s break it down.
The opening hooked me immediately. A bird soaring over the city, observing, and describing its surroundings piece by piece, until it finally reveals our protagonist. The one, who will drive the story forward. It felt fresh and immersive, a different way to set the stage.
Early chapters gave us a solid backstory: how the main character grew up, his daily struggles, and the rare moments of normalcy he clings to. When his grandfather’s health declines, Andy faces dangerous decisions. That’s where the central plot truly begins.
That’s also where my enthusiasm dipped slightly. I don’t mind detailed descriptions or a slower pace to build depth. But when half the book focuses on military drills, training, and their role in the city’s survival, it becomes excessive. At times, it felt repetitive, and I found myself skimming the parts of it. The narrative also shifted away from the city’s people to concentrate on AI, mutants, and the villain, which wasn’t what I hoped for.
By the final third, I just wanted it to end. The prolonged battles and direction of the story lost me. That said, for a debut, this was impressive overall. Based on the synopsis, I expected more emphasis on history, everyday struggles, and the human element of survival. It was lacking a piece, that got me emotionally connected to the story.
Am I curious about what happens next? Absolutely.
🌙 Recension: Echoes of Aurelia – Severed World by Denis Gavrilyuk
📚 Genre: Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, Dystopia
📅 Release Date: December 5, 2025
📗 available in various formats
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 980
⭐️ 3.5/5
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